AN: Thanks for all the patience and special thanks go to handsome-uks fo kicking my butt and sending me a PM this morning, demanding another update! I really need that sometimes...

As for the chapter - it will be a bit of a rollercoaster ride - emotionally. For Penelope. And Morgan might end up slighly confused!

She knew she had promised him and she should really try to keep her promises, but this case... this case just gripped her. It wasn't Kevin Lynch or that they had been together at some stage, or that she had been the initial first prime suspect, that kept her coming back for more. It was more her own curiosity at fault.

"So it wasn't Martin, the cross-dresser?" JJ asked over coffee, looking slightly surprised.

"Apparently he has an alibi."

"How exactly do you know that? I thought your detective had said he'd rather have you off the case. So I can't imagine him being all of a sudden so willing to give you details," JJ muttered, looking slightly confused.

"Well, I might or might not have caught a quick peek at some notes that lay on Derek Morgan's desk. I mean… it isn't my fault when he left those notes laying on his desk, right?" Penelope asked innocently.

"He left his notes laying on his desk, for everyone to see?" JJ asked incredulous.

"Um…I wouldn't say it like that. Maybe there was a file or so over it and it needed to be… pushed away or so…"

"Unbelievable. You… you probably broke a law or two by doing that, Penelope." JJ said. "He says 'Stay off the case and you… go and dig in his files?"

"Um…. Well, technically it was more, distracting him and getting a quick peek. I am not sure why you are so upset? I didn't do anything illegal, like break into the police station to get that information…"

"No, but Penny, this… this is a murder case. Someone died. And probably not because of an accident or something. Most likely there was more behind it. And I don't want to see you getting hurt or stuff."

"I won't, I promise…"

"How can you promise that?" JJ asked softly. "Technically that Martin guy yesterday could have been the killer and then… kill you because you stuck your nose into stuff that wasn't supposed to be your business… I am just worried about you, Penelope."

"I know, and I promise I'll be careful. I won't do any crazy stuff, just… dig around a bit. And see what I come up with, whether it is worth anything. I promise, I'll be careful and won't get foolish…" Penelope promised, but her best friend didn't look too convinced.

After a few moments of silence and a few deep sighs on JJ's part, it was her best friend who also spoke again.

"So… what do you do next than? You don't know anything else. Martin was… he was just pure luck, when you visited your friend Addison. If she hadn't mentioned anything you'd still be clueless. So… what now? Do you know of anyone else who could have … um... done that?"

"You already sound like a good crime show," Penelope laughed, but had to admit her friend was right. She had no idea who to look up next. It wasn't as if Kevin Lynch had been rather social, so the number of his friends could be counted on one hand. And she highly doubted that the few he had would know anything.

"I … I don't really know," Penelope finally admitted to her friend. "I guess I could try his office again and see whether there was someone else, but somehow I doubt that. I mean… I assume Addison would have known about any other issues. She usually was always very well informed about inner-office gossip and issues."

"So, who else is there left?" JJ asked and Penelope shrugged with her shoulders for a moment.

"I… don't know. I mean they suspected Tamara Barnes, who was cleared, having an alibi as well. Now they got Martin and he was cleared as well. It wasn't as if Lynch was very social. I mean apart from that one time-" Penelope went on, but suddenly stopped mid-sentence, making JJ look up at her surprised.

"Apart from what one time?" JJ asked and Penelope smiled at her widely. Of course.

"I… I think I know who I need to speak to next…" she said and JJ looked at her best friend curious.

"Who?" she finally asked, when Penelope didn't give her an answer.

"I need to speak to Cherry," Penelope said, seeing confusion in her best friend's face.

"Cherry?" JJ asked, thinking for a moment. "The girl you caught Kevin in the act with? Are you… insane?"

Penelope nodded for a moment, deciding now certainly wasn't the best time to argue about the state of her sanity.

"Well, she is kinda my only chance to get this somehow together. And I have this feeling in my gut…"

"That's your libido who tells you to get on with it for your detective," JJ commented dryly, but with a laugh.

"Anyway…. I have this feeling in my gut that she somehow is connected to this… And I need to find her…"

"And how exactly do you want to find your ex-boyfriends affair? You want to ask Tamara Barnes, your ex-boyfriends other girlfriend, slash mistress whether she knows about the other, or third woman?" JJ asked and Penelope had to admit that did sound absurd the way she said it.

"Um… no, of course not," Penelope said, almost protesting. Okay, maybe she had thought about that option for a second, but now had to admit it did sound rather ridiculous. Plus, she assumed Tamara Barnes probably wasn't the easiest to talk to, judging by the few snippets she had caught when she was released from prison and Tamara had been asked by Morgan. Maybe she needed a new plan.

"So how do you wanna find her than?" JJ asked and Penelope, for once, didn't know the answer to everything. Okay, technically there had been a few times when she didn't know the answer to everything, but all her friends always said she did. How could you find someone you knew nothing about, other than where you met her? Maybe just there…

"I… well, since I met her at Victoria's Secret on DuPont I will just start there and see how far I get. I mean, people there – colleagues -will probably know a thing or two about her …"

"You really want to find the girl your ex-boyfriend cheated on you with?" JJ asked quizzically. "I mean, you have to admit, it sounds rather… strange."

"Well, you always say I am anything but ordinary. And tracking down my ex-boyfriends affair he cheated on me with just… makes that so much clearer," Penelope smiled, glancing at her watch. "And I also need to go."

"You want to find her now?" JJ asked surprised.

"No, I won't. I actually have a date in about two hours and I need to get ready…"

"A date? That wouldn't be with the detective in whose custody you were last night, would it?" JJ asked smirking and Penelope felt a slight blush coming up. Sometimes it honestly sucked being so pale.

"Um yeah, and if I don't leave soon I'll be late," Penelope said.

"Oh please, you have two hours. You just want to leave so I can't grill you more about last night…" JJ laughed and Penelope took that as her cue to really get going and ready. He had called her earlier, telling her he'd pick her up at around seven from her place. And she still had no idea what he was planning.

About twenty minutes later she was back at her place, rummaging through her closet on a mission to find a dress she had bought half a year ago, before the split from Kevin, and had planned on wearing it on their anniversary. Needless to say it never came to the anniversary, they split before, and since then the dress had been hanging in her closet – untouched and unworn. Until tonight, of course. Somehow Penelope had the assumption that this dress would be more appreciated by Derek than Kevin could ever have done it justice.

Since Penelope had no idea what tonight would bring, or where they would end up, she had no idea about shoes, hair or make-up and just took a risk. If they would end up hiking somewhere her high-heels were probably the least of all her options, but in the end she figured she could always blame him. He after all hadn't told her where their night would bring them, so he had to live with her complaining if push came to shove.

At seven on the dot she heard him knock and she had just gotten ready. Perfect timing.

The first thing that surprised her when opening her front door, were the flowers he had bought. They were her favorites. Lucky guess or research? It would be the beginning of quite a few surprised for Penelope. The next surprise was that he didn't wear anything fancy really. He actually wore dark jeans, which in all fairness looked damn good on him, but made her think. Maybe her shoes were the wrong choice after all…

"I… um… should I change?" Penelope asked curiously and saw him shake his head.

"Nope, you look absolutely terrific. No need to change a thing. I would actually say, you look perfect for what I have planned."

She somehow had issues believing that. Compared to him she had to admit she looked slightly overdressed. She was dressed for a night in some upscale restaurant, and he looked like he'd take her to a movie or something rather low-scale. But before she really had a chance of protest, she was pulled out of her apartment and down her staircase.

They drove for about half an hour, leaving town, which made her suspicious. And when they pulled up in front of a house she got confused. This didn't look like a restaurant, or anything she would consider date-locations. What was he doing?

"Since I had the pleasure of being at your place twice already, but you never actually had seen how I live, I thought it might be a nice change. And less…pressuring."

"You live here?" Penelope asked surprised, taking the hand he offered her to get out of his car.

For a moment he laughed. "I actually do. Why? You look… surprised," she heard him asking, walking next to her towards the front door.

"I just… in all fairness I would have pictured you more for a bachelor pad kind of guy. And not … this," she said, pointing towards his house. "I mean, all you need is a dog and a white picket fence, and a wife with kids…"

A moment later he unlocked the door and Penelope was met by a pair of eyes. A pair of eyes that belonged to what looked like a Retriever – who seemed happy to see Derek.

"Well, as you can see, I already have the dog. And I am not much into picked fences. Or any kind of fences for that matter…" Morgan smiled. "The rest is still pretty much work in progress…"

Penelope didn't miss the look he threw her at that comment.

She had to admit that she had never really thought about where exactly Derek Morgan lived. But what she saw certainly wasn't anything she would have imagined about in connection with him. It was … as far from bachelor pad as one could be. There were still very masculine touches to this, like the rather undressed woman in artistic photographs he had hanging in neat frames all along his staircase to the upper floor. There was in general a whole lot of art in his house – and Penelope had to admit she loved it. There was also a lot of leather – which shouldn't have surprised her – as well as brass and wood.

"So, do you bring all your dates back home?" Penelope teased and she saw him grinning at her.

"No, only the important ones," he replied. "Which, actually there never had been any."

A moment later he was gone and Penelope was left back looking flabbergasted after him. Did he just think what she thought he said? When he reappeared he was carrying two glasses of red wine, handing her one.

"How do you know I drink red wine?" Penelope asked surprised. For whatever reason when people had to guess they figured her for a white wine girl. Not that she minded much, but she started wondering what exactly he knew about her.

"I… well, in all fairness when I went through your apartment with my search warrant a few days back, I… I might have had a sneak peek in your kitchen. And I might have seen a few bottles of red wine – which made me think that you probably like that one," Morgan admitted and Penelope couldn't help but smile.

"So you basically used your … search warrant for my apartment to sneak around and have a look at areas that shouldn't have been of … any interest for you," Penelope started, smiling.

"Well, I wouldn't say they shouldn't have been of any interest."

"In regards of the case. Or me being a potential suspect," she laughed and saw him grin at her.

"You have no idea what I had found in kitchens before that were relevant for my case. After all I am very thoroughly."

"So what can I expect from the thoroughly detective, who lives in a house and doesn't seem to fit any of my bachelor images I had so carefully crafted in my head?" Penelope asked and saw him smile at her.

"I hope you like steak," was all she heard. "And a few other things," he added with a grin.

"You…cook?" Penelope asked, surprised once more.

"I do. Regularly even…" Morgan admitted and walked away. This time Penelope followed him – and ended up in his kitchen, which was… a dream, even for someone like her, who didn't quite know anything about cooking.

"Why again are you single?" she asked, just being taken aback about how perfect exactly he seemed. "I mean girls must … they must kick down your front door…you are pretty much everything we could ever need…"

At that she saw him laughing for a moment, actually having the decency to tie an apron around his waist. And he even looked hot with it.

"I guess all the girls that keep kicking down my door just don't tick all the boxes on my list," he smiled at her, getting started on what looked already delicious and it wasn't even done -at least she assumed that. "In contrast to you, who seems to tick just about everything."

There clearly was something about this guy. A guy so open about everything that it made Penelope wonder. What if he thought she was all this and more and then at some point would realize that maybe she wasn't? She wasn't sure whether she'd be able to go back to everything how it was before he stepped into her life. Hard to believe this had happened only a few days ago actually.

"You… um... you haven't really seen that much about me to really be able to say that," Penelope smiled, taking a sip of her wine. "But thank you for the compliment."

"You don't realize how amazing you are, do you?" she heard him asking a few moments later.

"I would say… I… um… I do okay."

"Trust me, you are more than okay. You are probably the most fascinating person I have met in a while. I mean you are smart, witty, independent, a bit stubborn, driven and passionate. And… sexy. As well as incredibly hot and you have that… innocence that is combined with a wicked mix of kinky and sophistication. And I think we don't have to talk about your abilities of last night…" he said, winking. At that she needed to blush again slightly.

"Oh, so I am the sexpot and you are … a god," Penelope replied, seeing him laugh again.

"Oh no, darling. You are more like the goddess and I am your admirer," Morgan replied smiling. "Maybe even just the slave to your amazingness," he admitted, brushing his thumb over her nose.

Slave? Did he just say slave? That somehow brought back images from the other day, of that catalogue and… She saw him being busy with cutting and chopping stuff which he threw in a pan. He probably didn't even notice how she stood more or less frozen at the same spot for several moments.

"Um… I am not entirely sure that ... I mean… well... um… maybe I should go," Penelope all of a sudden said and only saw his expression shortly, before she turned and started slowly her way to his front door. Even if she had to get a cab at this stage to get back home.

What was she thinking to begin with? What had she expected? This … was not going to work in the long-run.

"Hey, hey… wait a moment there," she heard him call after her a few moments later, but Penelope was already halfway through the door. "Hey," she heard him almost yell a moment later when she didn't stop. And then she felt his hand, grabbing her wrist, spinning her around to face him. "Can you maybe tell me what… what is going on? I mean, one moment we are all flirty and have fun and the next moment you all of a sudden wanna leave. Did I… did I say something? Did I do something wrong? Just because we are on this date and you are here does not mean we… that we have to do anything really."

"I…um … I, well…. maybe not now, but eventually…," she replied, not really able to look at him.

"I don't think I follow," she heard him admit, looking confused at her. "Do you think… last night was a mistake?"

"No," Penelope said almost immediately, shouting nearly. "No, that's not what I meant. Last night was… was amazing and great, but… it was not what you… um… what you usually do I assume and quite frankly I am not sure I'd be able to … go down that road," she said, not sure where to really look. Well, anywhere but him.

"I'm… I'm not sure what you are actually talking about," he said, laughing slightly nervous.

"I… um… well," Penelope started, feeling the blush coming up again. "You… obviously have certain tastes…" Penelope started explaining, without really saying anything.

"I have…what?" he asked, looking confused and worried.

"Well, you remember… the night when I brought you the … Tamara Barnes DVD?" Penelope asked, assuming she at least owed him an apology before leaving his life probably forever.

"Yes, the… porno. What does any of that have to do with what is happening right here, right now? And is that again about you assume I would totally get off of sleeping with a porn star? Because if it is…" she heard him say, but Penelope interrupted.

"No, no, this is not it," she was quick in replying.

"Good, because let me tell you, I am a hundred per cent not one of these guys. I rather get off with you…" he said, and Penelope felt him taking her hand in his and the effect his words had on her. They turned her insides to goo. To warm, wobbly goo.

"When I was about to leave I saw it, you know, the catalogue of… things," Penelope explained and saw the confusion in his face grow.

"What catalo-" she heard him start asking, and assumed he realized now what she was talking about.

"And don't get me wrong. I… I fully understand and don't judge you. I mean... that is probably more normal than what other people are into – judging by all your suspects. And… you are a great guy, but I think I … I am not that kind of girl," Penelope said, almost babbling, but at least she wanted him to know that technically this wasn't an issue for her and that she judged him or thought he'd be a freak. It was just… not something she was in.

When there was a long silence, she looked up and saw him smiling at her. And god, did she make such a big fool of herself? Maybe she really should go now and this was the best time. She started taking a step, but stopped right away, when he blocked her and the door – her exit.

"Okay, Baby Girl. We need to talk," he started and Penelope needed to laugh nervously for a moment. "I think you got a thing or two…um… mixed up." He made a break, forcing her to look up by positioning his thumb under her chin and pushing upwards. "That catalogue is certainly not mine. That was a part of … um… evidence. I certainly don't go that way and think I am with you on that topic, the less kink the better…" she heard him say, sounding serious and not letting go of her chin and locking his eyes with hers. There was a seriousness and openness about this, which blew Penelope away. "Listen, I swear to god, that catalogue had nothing to do at all with me. It was handed to me because someone assumed it would help the case, nothing more. This has nothing to do with what I like….or don't. But you are partially right. There is something I am into, really, really into. And maybe it's time I come clean and tell you. I think it starts actually affecting my work and … not sure how much longer I can actually keep it to myself…"

"Oh my… how… I mean, what is it?" Penelope asked, almost in panic, going through every possible scenario she could come up with.

He laughed for a moment, but it was a soft smile, almost like a chuckle. "You," he simply said and Penelope needed to look at him surprised. "You are my obsession, my interest, in case you haven't noticed. My only obsession," he smiled, before stepping closer and kissing her.

They didn't even make it to the main course before Morgan fell all over her and made love to her right under dining table. He certainly was up for surprises…